Apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ultra-violet rays.



M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS BY MEANS OF ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. I972.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

M. VON RECKLINGHAUSEN.

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS BY MfiANS 0F ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 19:2.

1,204,721. I Patent-ed Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

WITNESSES 5 m INVAINTDZiALd I Z7 7 UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE R. U, V. COMPANY, INC., CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR srnmmzme LIQUIDS BY "MEANS or ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that 1, MAX VON Rnoknm e- HAUSEN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, reslding at Paris, France, have Invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Sterilizing Liquids by Means of Ultra-Violet Rays, of which the following is a specification. The invention relates to apparatus for the purpose of sterilizing liquids by means of ultra-violet rays and has for its object to construct devices of this kind which will ofi'er little impediment to the passage of the liquid to be treated and which shall be of great utility with a relatively low cost and high eflicienc-y. v

It is known that ultra-violet rays which traverse a certain thickness of air or other gases are absorbed to such an extent that an apparatus in which there'existsa thick layer of air between the source of raysand the f struct an apparatus which conforms to the above conditions and comprises a source of ultra-violet rays, a mercury lamp wlth a quartz contamer for example, surrounded by a spiral tube formed of quartz or other material which is permeable to the ultra-violet rays. The liquid to be sterilized is passed 1 through the spiral tube at a suitable speed and consequently is traversed in a continuous manner by the ultra-violet rays during its passage from one extremity of the spiral tube to the other. The spiral tube is furnished with suitable inlet and outlet tubes by means of which the liquid can enter the spiral and leave it after being sterilized.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation showing one form of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are ele 'ations partly sectional illustrating modifications.

Referring now to Figs l and 2 a mercury vapor lamp.5 forms the source of ultraviolet raysand receivescurrent by the terminals 6, said lamp mounted on a base Specification of Letters Patent." Application filed March-9, 1912. Serial No. 682,719.

to the outside and in order to permit t operation of the apparatus to be watched one of the sides of the box is furnished with a suitable Window 13, fitted with glass or Patented Nov. 14., 1916.

7 which can oscillate about the pivot 8 and can be inclined or tilted for the purpose of starting the lamp. The base 7 is limited in its movement by two stops 9 and under normal, conditions, rests on two stops 10. The

, stops 9 and 10 also the pivot 8 are carried by two ertical brackets 11. The liquid to be treated passes through a spiral tube 2 the dimensions of-which are such as will permit the lamp tobe inserted and withdrawn at will, said tube being provided with asuitable inlet 1 and outlet 4 which may be furnished with flexible connections permitting the inclination of the lamp when starting the same. The spiral tube is surrounded on the outside with an envelop 3, the face of which is reflecting and the output of the apparatus is thereby considerably increased. The whole apparatus may be inclosed in a box 12 forthe purpose of preventing the rays emitted by the lamp from spreading he some other material which is opaque to ultra-violet rays. I

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:The mercury-vapor lamp 5. having been started by tilting-the apparatus upon the pivot 8. and then returning it to its normal condition the liquid to be sterilized is forced to enter by pipe 1. The liquid passes through the spiral. tube 2 and flows out by the pipe 4. During its passage the liquid is subjected to the action of direct rays falling on the internal surface of the spiral tube and rays reflected by the surface 3 which fall on the exterior part offthe spiral.

The apparatus forming the object of the invention is specially applicable to the sterilization of Water or other liquids which are very permeable to ultra-violet rays, but it can also be used for other liquids since by suitably regulating the passage. of the liquid through the spiral tube eddies can be set up in the liquid, which cause all the liquid particles to pass successively into contact with the internal surface of the spiral tube thereby subjecting them to the sterilizing action of the rays emitted by the mercury lamp or other source.

4 In Fig. 3 of the drawings the spiral tube 2" in place of being arranged with its axis horizontal is vertical and the quartz mercury isstopped the spiral becomes entirely empty of liquid This is not the case with the ar- /rangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which liquid sometimes remains in the lower portions of the spiral tube and since the liquid cannot be passed into the spiral tube when the lamp is first started the liquid remaining over from the last operation sometimes evaporates and the lime or other salts contained thereinhave a bad effect on the quartz causing it to become opaque. This disadvantage is obviously not present. with the arrange, ment shown in Fig. 3.;

For the treatment of liquids which are opaque or nearly opaque to ultra-violet rays,

milk for example, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 may beemployed. The spiral tube 2" has a capillary bore through which the liquid under pressure is forced and in Y orderto prevent the temperature of the liquid from beingraised this capillary tube is I surrounded by a concentric tube 14, through which the cooling .water is forced to circu-' late. Thecooling water is led iuby the tube 15,-whichenters a socket 16 making tight joints with the capillary tub "2 and outer tube 14, as shown at the to of the figure, and leaves byan outlet tube 17 arranged in course be made of materi a similar manner. The water being transparent to ultra-violet rays will not interfere with the passage of the rays to the liquid to be treated. I a

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown in which the cooling water jacket consists of two cylinders 18, 19, forming an annular passage in which the spiral tube 2 is located, the cirwhich is permeable toultra-violet rays.

It is very apparent that while I have referred to the tube for conveying the liquid to such as quartz desire that only such limitations shall be imposedas are indicated within the appended claims; I claim as my invention.

1. The combination with a source of 111- tra violet rays of a complete or. closed spiral tube formedof material permeable to said rays, surrounding said source, and inlet and outlet tubes by which liquid may enter and leave the spiral tube.

2. The combination of a mercury vapor lamp having an inverted 'U-shaped container forming a source of ultra-violet rays, a com,- plete or closed spiral tube formed of material permeable to said rays surrounding said container, and inlet and outlet tubes by which liquid. may enter and leave the spiral tube.

3. .The combinationof a mercury vapor lamp having a containerof quartz, a complete or"clos,ed spiral tube of .quartz surrounding said container, and inlet and outlet tubesbywhich liquid may enter and leave the spiral tube. Y, Y t

4:. The comb'nation of a source of ultraviolet rays, a complete or closed spiral tube formed of material permeable to said rays surrounding said source, and a water jacket surrounding said spiraltube for the purpose of. cooling the same.

5. The combination of a source of ultraviolet rays, a complete or closed spiral capillary tube formed of material permeable to said 'rays surrounding said source, and means for forcing a. liquid through the spiral tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-sub scribed my name this twenty-seventh day of February 1912.

MAX m: RECKLINGHAUSEN.

Witnesses Gnoncn E. LIGHT, .LUCIEN MEMMINGER. 

